NFL Notebook: Raiders' Davis fires Turner

Vacancy leaves 8 teams looking for head coaches

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, January 3, 2006

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Al Davis preaches winning, and for three seasons now the Oakland Raiders have done exactly the opposite.

Davis made his third coaching change in five years Tuesday, hoping the firing of Norv Turner will bring back the winning ways to his once-proud franchise.

"We want to win. The Raider fans deserve it. The Raider players deserve it, even my organization deserves it," Davis said in a conference call after meeting with Turner earlier in the day. "You have to win and you have to win with a vision for the Super Bowl. That's our passion here.

"I just didn't feel the fit was right, and I think he agreed with me."

Latest videos

The 53-year-old Turner, who had a year remaining on his contract worth about $1.75 million, knew his job was in jeopardy for the past two months. The Raiders managed only one victory in their division during Turner's tenure.

Oakland lost its final six games and eight of nine to finish 4-12, one less victory than Turner produced in his first season. The Raiders have strung together three straight losing seasons for the first time since Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team.

"I don't think this was a surprise to anyone. It was speculated over the last two months," Turner said. "I wanted to be here, and you take a job with the idea of doing a good job, getting the job done and being successful."

Davis is left looking for another coach. He ousted Bill Callahan following the 2003 season, a year removed from the Raiders' 48-21 Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay.

"The No. 1 thing I've learned in this league, and what everyone's looking for, is the quick fix," Turner said. "I'm not sure there's such a thing."

Potential successors to Turner include Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, Ravens quarterbacks coach and former Huskies head coach Rick Neuheisel, former Raiders coach and current NFL vice president Art Shell, and Fresno State coach Pat Hill, who has NFL experience.

COACHING SEARCHES: The Vikings launched their search for a head coach Tuesday, planning an interview with defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and lining up other candidates from around the league.

Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders arrived in town to talk with owner Zygi Wilf, president Mark Wilf and others in the ownership group and front office that will be part of the process. Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brad Childress was also reportedly at Winter Park for an interview.

Saunders, who has been in charge of the Chiefs' powerful offense since 2001, has drawn interest from other teams, too -- including his own club about replacing the retired Vermeil in Kansas City.

The Saints, meanwhile, were given permission to interview Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson for their head coaching vacancy.

Haslett was fired as Saints coach Monday after a 3-13 season that included the team being displaced from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The 48-year-old Henderson has been with the Jets for two seasons. Last year, his defense finished seventh in the league, and was 12th this year.

In Detroit, the Lions have contacted Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary about their vacant coaching job.

Asked if he thought he was ready to be an NFL head coach, Singletary said, "Absolutely."

Singletary, an assistant with the 49ers, also has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Packers' vacant coaching job, but Singletary said the Packers have not contacted him.

EXTRA POINTS: Ravens coach Brian Billick will return in 2006 after agreeing with Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti to make significant changes in the way he runs the team. ... Browns president John Collins resigned, ending a late-season power struggle in the team's front office that nearly led to the firing of general manager Phil Savage. In a statement released by the Browns, owner Randy Lerner said Savage and coach Romeo Crennel will remain in their current roles. ... The Jaguars could be without three defensive starters Saturday night at New England: LB Mike Peterson (sprained wrist) and defensive ends Reggie Hayward (hamstring) and Paul Spicer (broken hand) missed practice Tuesday and were listed as questionable for the wild-card game against the Patriots. ... Redskins assistant Gregg Williams signed a three-year contract worth a reported $8 million to remain with the team.